Jonathan Center in Albania Information

The Jonathan Center is an independent Albanian organisation birthed out of a need faced from Jonathan's family when he was born with Down Syndrome in 2004. By 2007 all efforts in finding support and building a future with dignity for Jonathan failed, therefore the dream of building a place where children with Down Syndrome would thrive, their families would be supported and success stories of development, education, employment and inclusion was planted in our founder's heart, Oreada Kita. In November 2008, Oreada Kita and Annette Van Gorkum launched the Jonathan Center project and gathered the first group of mothers with children with Down Syndrome and organised the first national training for professionals on special needs services in March, 2009. After two years of providing occupational therapy sessions for free for children with Down Syndrome the Jonathan Center was registered as a non profit organisation in June, 2011. World Down Syndrome Day 2012 was the first WDSD observed by UN after many organisations from all over the world appealed to their country's ambassador to advocate toward it. We are proud to have been part of that process leaded by Down Syndrome International and in many ways contributed in building a better future for individuals with Down Syndrome in Albania and beyond. Today, the Jonathan Center provides for free services for children and adults with various diagnosis, advocates for their rights and raises awareness among Albanians on the potential of individuals with Down Syndrome. We also publish helpful resources for parents and professionals like Teletherapy guidelines and Parents handbooks. At the Jonathan Center we believe every person is to be loved, included and treated with excellence in every approach. We reflect those values by constantly looking for new innovative ways of supporting individuals with special needs in Albania and by sharing our faith that every person is wonderfully created, cared for and loved by God.